Chicago White Sox: LaRoche has to earn at-bats at DH
After signing free-agent outfielder Austin Jackson to a one-year, $5 million contract a week ago, general manager Rick Hahn had some interesting comments regarding the Chicago White Sox' suddenly crowded roster.
"At this point, nothing has been promised to anybody," Hahn said. "When it comes to making out the lineup, (manager) Robin (Ventura's) mission simply is to put the best team out there on any given night that's going to put us in the best position to win.
"He need not worry about contracts or pedigree or a player's history with us. It's about getting the right guys in the right position to win that night's ballgame."
Last season Adam LaRoche was not the right guy for the Sox at designated hitter.
Signed to a two-year, $25 million contract after spending the bulk of his 11-year career as a National League first baseman, LaRoche failed to make the transition to American League DH.
"Last year (was bad)," LaRoche said when training camp opened last month. "It was tough."
Instead of providing left-handed power out of the cleanup spot and protecting No. 3 hitter Jose Abreu in the White Sox' lineup, LaRoche posted a .207/.293/.340 batting line with 12 home runs and 44 RBI.
"I wish I could go back and redo it," he said. "I get to do that this year."
Well, maybe.
LaRoche makes $13 million in the final year of his contract, and he will get a shot at redemption this season. But if the 36-year-old DH gets off to another slow start, it looks like he's going to be a very expensive pinch hitter.
"He's going to have to earn at-bats, just like everybody else," Ventura said.
If LaRoche fails to rebound, the Sox have plenty of options at DH.
The Jackson signing gives them four outfielders for three spots. A superior defensive player, Jackson is likely to spend most of his time in center, which could move Adam Eaton to DH.
Out of the leadoff spot in 2015, Eaton slashed .287/.361/.431 and had more home runs (14) and RBI (56) than LaRoche.
Like most major-league position players, Eaton strongly prefers playing defense instead of being a one-dimensional DH.
But Eaton had shoulder surgery in October and he's still not 100 percent when it comes to throwing. Eaton has played in seven Cactus League games this spring, all at DH.
Expected to be healthy enough to play the outfield before camp breaks at the end of the month, Eaton can be used in left, center or right.
Ventura's other options at DH are regular left fielder Melky Cabrera, Jackson, regular right fielder Avisail Garcia and catchers Dioner Navarro and Alex Avila.
LaRoche homered in his first exhibition game, on March 4. He hurt his back on a swing the next day and has yet to return to the White Sox' spring-training lineup.
On Friday, LaRoche was feeling good enough to start taking batting practice, and he hopes to be back sometime this week.